The EYES have it!: Day 353 ~ Costco Race and Chuck E's Place

December 19, 2014

My Instead: I went to Costco Wholesale with my daughter-in-law instead of Sam's Club with my sister and then met my sister and her family at Chuck E Cheese for her son's 6th birthday.

Every Christmas season my sister Karen and I make a trip to Sam’s Club to shop for the last minute food items for the Christmas celebration at my house. Karen has a Sam’s card, so she is my ticket into the place. This year, however, my daughter-in law Shaundra offered to take me with her to Costco Wholesale. I think I've only been there once and that was years and years ago…so Costco it was!

When Costco opened at 10:00, Shaundra, my grandson Andy, and I were on it. The store was buzzing with Christmas shoppers and we were part of the buzz. Even though I am NOT a list maker, I had my list. The “amazing race” began as we searched the aisles for each item. But then there were also the detours for things not on the list and all those sample-tasting stations. All and all, the adventure proved to be a fun time as Shaundra and I exchanged our little quips back and forth.

The rest of my day was filled with more shopping, wrapping and logging onto my Christmas spreadsheet…lots to keep track of. Then I remembered that it was my nephew Aidan’s 6^th birthday. I called my sister’s phone to talk to her son. My aging vocal cords belted out the traditional “happy birthday” song to my sweet little nephew. Then his big brother Connor took over as big brothers often do and my phone conversation was more with him than the birthday boy. He invited me to meet them at Chuck E Cheese for pizza and games, but I reminded him that I had a Christmas party the next night. He immediately said “Oh, you have to get ready for that!” Connor is well aware of the “production” I have at my house on Christmas, so the subject was dropped as far as my going to Chuck E Cheese.

It was in the parking lot at Shop ‘n Save where I decided to take Connor up on his offer to join them at Chuck E Cheese. I made the long trek to Fairview Heights and snuck in to surprise them. I got the biggest hugs from Aidan and Connor…that’s what I’m talkin’ about! And then we were off! There were tokens to spend, games to play, and prize tickets to win. We had a blast with football, skee-ball, air hockey and race car driving. As it turned out, my intended 15-minute stay grew to an hour and a half. A kid’s gotta do what a kid’s gotta do. And the kid in me was doing it!

Later at home after all the Chuck E cheer, I “settled back” into my Christmas craziness. Will my “little” visit to my nephew’s birthday celebration make me late for Christmas? Never.